It would seem the spat between the secretaries-general of PAS and DAP has escalated threatening the framework of vital cooperation within Pakatan Rakyat.

This follows PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali's challenge to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng to debate him. The former says the event should proceed as it involved the integrity of party leaders.

“The real issue is simple [...] I challenge Lim because he accused me of being dishonest and lying. In reality, Lim lied due to his foul mouth,” the PAS secretary-general lambasted in a statement today.

Mustafa (left) said he has also read the statements by DAP's organising secretary, Anthony Loke, and Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir, who is also the party's assistant national publicity secretary, and said they either do not understand the issue at hand or are trying to divert the matter.

Loke had wanted the spat to be brought to the Pakatan Rakyat leadership council for mediation following the open challenge posed by Mustafa for a debate.

'Integrity affected' claim

Mustafa said the one person who understood the matter at hand was PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad who knew that the issue had nothing to do with PAS or DAP.

“This concerns the integrity of a person. If it is not resolved, the integrity of that person is affected as I have been accused of being dishonest and as such I should not sit in the higher echelons of Pakatan Rakyat's leadership.

“Similarly, I have accused Lim (right) of lying and that he is not qualified to sit in Pakatan's top leadership. The issue of integrity is important for Pakatan and this should be resolved," he said.

Mustafa stressed that he does not want other PAS leaders to be involved as he alone had challenged Lim to the debate.

As for Zairil's proposal to bring the matter to court, he said the process would take too long and instead should be handled immediately and at Pakatan-level.

Two issues at core

“To Loke, he should not twist and turn. I do not challenge others or Umno as this does not concern them. I will prove who is lying,” said the veteran PAS leader.

Mustafa on Wednesday had challenged Lim to an open debate on the views of the two parties on local council elections and hudud - a move seen as driving a wedge between the two parties that could possibly result in the opposition coalition splitting up.

Mustafa accused Lim of telling 'half-lies' on PAS' consent for DAP's local government agenda.